Team France take the win for the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™: Stephane Landois and Hermes Du Gevaudan, Thomas Carlile and Golden De Beliard AA, Karim Florent Laghouag and Dream De Vieve, Benjamin Massie and Figaro Fonroy. Photo: FEI/Libby Law Photography
The final qualifying leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup in Lignières (FRA) saw France repeat their home win for a second year, finishing on a score of 106.70 penalties. Second place was claimed by Great Britain on 170.40, and third place went to Italy with 194.40 to secure their place in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Final at Boekelo (NED) between October 1 and 4.
The experienced French team of Benjamin Massie with Figaro Fonroy, Karim Florent Laghouag and Dream de Vieve, Stephane Landois riding Hermes du Gevaudan and Thomas Carlile on board Golden de Beliard AA, topped the podium once more with an emphatic win under the sunshine in Lignières, to the joy of the local crowds.
“We are very happy with the French team this weekend. They were first after dressage which is a good start, cross country was nice and show jumping allowed us to keep the lead, so we are really pleased with the result,” Chef d’Equipe Jean Luc Force said of the team.
Individual winners and team members Karim Florent Laghouag and Dream of Life. Photo: FEI/Libby Law Photography
Having contested four of the five FEI Eventing Nations Cup legs this season, more than any other nation, and winning two – here in Lignières, and leg three in Strzegom (POL) earlier in June – France lead the 2026 standings and go into Boekelo as the favourites on paper. However, with the 2026 format shakeup, all team points set to zero, and so the final prize is all to play for.
The British team achieved second place with a team of Nations Cup debutants, Lizzie Baugh riding Piltown Concorde, Kate Rowe and Hableur, Andrew Downes with Cooley Foxtrot and Tristram Owers on GRS Carina. Making this Great Britain’s 59th podium finish at the FEI Eventing Nations Cup, second only to Germany (61) in the all-time podium finish rankings.
“We had some inexperience in our team, and we were very happy to finish on the podium behind a very strong France on our third visit to Lignières,” Chef d’Equipe Philip Surl said of the team’s result.
“The amount of work and effort that has gone into the preparation of the footing on the cross country by [course designer] Piere Le Goupil and his amazing team has been a lot of work and time, and is hugely appreciated by all the teams.”
Italy back on the podium
France, Great Britain and Italy feature on the Nations Cup podium. Photo: FEI/Libby Law Photography
In claiming their first podium place of the 2026 FEI Eventing Nations Cup, their first time since Avenches (SUI) in June 2024, the Italian team of Beatrice Maggi and Charlotte 238, Alessio Proia on board Gatto Salta D’o, Pietro Majolino riding Dubi Du and Matteo Arrighi with Clark Del Rilate, secured their nation’s ticket to Boekelo next week, finishing well inside the top 10 rankings for the season.
“I’m very happy with this result, I want to say thank you to our team and the organisation for this wonderful event, but the best part is that Italy have returned to the podium”, Team Trainer, Jacopo Comelli, said with a smile.
Rounding out the team competition was Norway in fourth, consisting of Yasmin Olsson Payne with Cos Me Will, Ellen Kristina Hynne on ML Dirty Harry and Heidi Bratlie Larsen riding SC Mr. Chrichton, and the Swiss team of Robin Godel on board Ilario des Tours, Patrick Rüegg with Tabaro and Camille Guyot riding Sunny For Game, in fifth. Both teams complete their competition claiming their nation a place at Boekelo, also.
The Boekelo stage is set
Joining this weekend’s teams down the dressage centre line at Boekelo on Thursday will be five other nations: Germany, Austria, Poland, Belgium and USA. The home nation, the Netherlands, clinched the tenth and the final spot from a three-way tie between them, New Zealand and Sweden, thanks to posting the lowest qualifying team score (Avenches, June 2026) of the three teams this season.
Now, the points reset to zero and ten nations will arrive in Boekelo in just a few days’ time with clean sheets and an abundance of enthusiasm ready to go head-to-head in the 2026 FEI Eventing Nations Cup Final, where only one team can emerge as victors.
FEI Eventing Nations Cup – Lignières (France): [Website] [Scoring] [FEI Eventing Nations Cup 2026] [Live Stream Replays – FEI YouTube] [Live Stream Replays – ClipMyHorse.TV]
